Wishing you a wonderful (and safe) Memorial Day Weekend!

Don’t forget to take care of your eyes while enjoying all the beautiful sunshine. It is more important than you may think to a use a pair of sunglasses with UV protection.

Today designer sunglasses are fashionable, trendy, and considered as much an accessory as an optical device. But sunglasses also serve a very important purpose for your overall eye health.

UV Protection is essential to Eye Health

Just as they do they on your skin, the sun’s rays can have a harmful effect on your eyes .

UV radiation sun can damage not only the surface of your eyelid but also the cornea, lens and other parts of the eye. UV exposure also contributes to the development of certain types of cataracts.  Therefore, ultraviolet (UV) eye protection matters.

For those us living in the Twin Lakes Area, we tend to spend more time than most on or around the water. Fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation could mean higher UV exposure rates for us than for those living in urban areas.

When you’re choosing sunglasses, look for UV-protection details on product labels. Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.

Larger is better

Skip sunglasses that are labeled “cosmetic” and those that don’t offer details on UV protection. Opt for larger lenses rather than smaller lenses — or, better yet, the wraparound variety.

Tips for Selecting Sunglasses

Of course, UV protection isn’t the only consideration when it comes to selecting sunglasses. In addition to UV protection, here’s the lowdown on other options:

• Polarized lenses. Polarized lenses reduce glare, especially while on the water.  They tend to be a popular option for those who enjoy fishing and boating.  Most polarized lenses also offer UV protection.
  

• Blue-blocking lenses. Blue-blocking lenses — which are generally tinted amber — can make distant objects easier to see, especially in low light. Blue-blocking plastic lenses may make it difficult to discriminate the hues in traffic lights, however, and not all blue-blocking lenses offer adequate UV protection.

• Photochromic lenses. Photochromic lenses reduce glare and help maintain clarity, although they may take time to adjust to different light conditions. Not all photochromic lenses offer adequate UV protection, so be sure to check the product label.

• Polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses offer protection from impact injuries that may be sustained during physical activities. Polycarbonate lenses also adequately shield the eyes from UV radiation. These lenses might be recommended for those involved in contact sports.

• Mirror-coated lenses. Mirror-coated lenses help block visible light, but they don’t necessarily block UV radiation.

Don’t like to wear sunglasses?

Standard prescription eyeglasses can be treated with a material that provides UV protection while retaining a clear, non-tinted appearance. Some contact lenses also offer UV protection — but because contact lenses don’t cover the entire eye, it’s still important to wear sunglasses for UV protection when you’re outdoors.

If you have any questions about which type of sunglasses are right for you, please contact us at our Sneed Optical Shop.  One of our skilled opticians will be happy to spend time with you in order to find that perfect pair.

Update – Giveaway Concluded May 16, 2011.

Congratulations to our winner Miss April, from Mountain Home, Ar.

We hope you enjoy your new Vera Bradley shades April!

We’re giving away ONE fabulously gorgeous pair of Vera Bradley Sunglasses on our Facebook Fanpage.

Simply visit our Fanpage to Enter.

Don’t forget to click the “LIKE ” button on our facebook fanpage

in order not to miss out on our next giveaway as well!

Contest Begins: April 9th, 2011
Contest Ends: May 16th, 2011

Giveaway includes one pair of Vera Bradley Sunglasses in Blue Lagoon Design

with matching Blue Lagoon Case.

Fine Print

Regular non prescription lenses only.

Giveaway does not include prescription lenses.

Must be Arkansas Resident and 18 and over years of age.

________________________________________

New at Sneed Eye Associates Optical Shop are Digital Eyeglass Lenses from KODAK Precise™ Progressive.

What are Digital Lenses?

The use of digital lenses in ophthalmic eyeglasses is increasing in eye care practices all over the world.

Many people are confused with the concept of digital lenses, often thinking that the lens itself is some kind of highly advanced equipment that one would see in a Sci-Fi movie.  The truth is, digital lenses are just like ordinary lenses yet it the manufacturing process that sets them apart from traditional lens manufacturing.

Sometimes, higher-order aberrations can affect your vision, even if your prescription eyeglasses fully correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. These aberrations may be due to the optical characteristics of your eyes or can be caused by the optical limitations of conventional eyeglass lenses.

But recent advances in eyeglass lens manufacturing have made possible new digital eyeglass lenses that correct these aberrations, potentially giving you sharper vision than what is possible with conventional eyeglasses. These lenses are designed to provide sharper vision in all lighting conditions and reduce glare for nighttime driving and other night vision tasks.

Reasons to Go Digital when selecting your eyeglasses

• unprecedented levels of optical clarity
• better control of image distortion
• more peripheral vision and a sharper vision.

Revolutionary design provides crisp, clear vision wherever you look – inches or miles away.

If you need glasses to read, you?ll want to know about new KODAK Precise Lenses. They give you comfortable, natural vision at all viewing distances. And there is no such thing as “getting used to” your new eyewear – it’s virtually instantaneous.

Whether you wear bifocals or already wear progressive lenses, you owe it to yourself – and your eyes – to check out this remarkable new lens design. It bears the name known worldwide for quality and innovation – Kodak.

Ask your doctor if KODAK Precise Lenses are right for you.

Kodak is a trademark of Kodak, used under license by Signet Armorlite, Inc. Precise is a trademark of Signet Armorlite, Inc.

LOCAL SURGEON AMONG 1,467 INITIATED INTO AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

Dr. Davis Alan Davis was among 1,467 Initiates from around the world who became Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) during convocation ceremonies at the College’s 96th annual Clinical Congress in Washington, DC, in November 2010.

Dr. Davis received a medical doctorate degree in 1983 from The University of Oklahoma and is currently practicing at Sneed Eye Associates located in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

In 1995, Dr. Davis attained board certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Davis has a strong professional interest in Cataract and Refractive Surgery and holds memberships in other professional societies, including The Society of Military Ophthalmologists, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

By meeting the College’s stringent membership requirements, Fellows of the College have earned the distinguished right to use the designation of “FACS” (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after their names. An applicant for Fellowship must be a graduate of an approved medical school; must have completed advanced training in one of the 14 surgical specialties recognized by the College; must possess certification by an American surgical specialty board; and must have been in practice in the same geographic location for at least one year at the time of his or her application. Before admission into Fellowship, the surgeon must further demonstrate ethical fitness and professional proficiency, and his or her acceptance as a Fellow of the College must be approved by three-fourths of its Board of Regents.

The convocation ceremony was a highlight of the five-day meeting, which also featured reports on research-in-progress, postgraduate courses, panel discussions, symposia, and scientific and industrial exhibits.

Total estimated attendance at the Congress was 13, 057, including approximated 8,170 physicians. Allied health professionals and members of the scientific and consumer media also attended the meeting.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and education organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care the surgical patient.

The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 77,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

Sneed Eye Associates in Mountain Home, Arkansas announces the addition of a new physician in August of 2010. Dr. David Davis will be joining this well known medical practice bringing his expertise in ophthalmology including cataract surgery and laser vision correction surgery.

“We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Davis to our team” , said Dr. Douglas Marx, Sneed Eye Associates.  ”He brings with him superb knowledge, an energetic personality and a kind demeanor.   We’re certain he will be a great fit with our patients as he already is with our staff.”

Born and raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma.  Dr. Davis received his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University in Botany and Radiation Science in Animal Science.   He then went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma Medical School. He interned at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

Dr. Davis is Retired Military

Davis enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an officer in the United States Navy.  He completed his ophthalmology residency at the Naval Hospital San Diego. He retired as a Navy Captain after  a 21 year career as an ophthalmologist.

Laser Correction Surgeries

He was one of the earlier military refractive surgeons, and established and ran the first Navy Laser Vision Correction Center in the Southeastern US. During this time he completed thousands of refractive vision correction surgeries on active duty military personnel, including Pilots, Rescue Swimmers, and Special Forces members.

Accepting New Patients

Dr. Davis is now accepting new patients for:

• Comprehensive Eye Exams
• Cataract Surgery
• Oculopastic surgery
• Laser Vision Correction
• Treatment of all disorders and diseases of the eye

Sneed Eye Associates

Sneed Eye Associates provides comprehensive eye care to the Twin Lakes Region. Establish in 1966 by the late Dr. John Sneed, Sneed Eye has been a regional leader for eye care in North Central Arkansas for many years. Today the tradition of caring continues with the doctors at Sneed Eye Associates.

With a team of three ophthalmologists and one optometrist, all who live right here in the Mountain Home Area, you can be certain our doctors will be available to take special care of their patients if needed.

We Care about your Eye Care!